Wear-resistant steering column switch with lever pivotable about two mutually parallel axes

ABSTRACT

A steering column switch is contained within a switch housing and a control lever is rotatably supported in a carrier. The carrier is rotatable transversely to the motion plane of the control lever in the switch housing. The control lever is pivotable in succession about two axes allocated to the actuation of two corresponding switches. The steering column switch greatly extends switch life by using suitable limiting components within the lever which reduce the wear on the lever caused by switching actuation. An improved embodiment includes providing the pivoting lever with a longitudinal aperture for pivoting the lever about two axes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a steering column switch for automotivevehicles and more particularly relates to steering column switches thatemploy switch levers that are pivotable about two offset axes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Steering column switches of this general type are known from GermanPublished Patent Application (DE-OS) No. 39 40 284. This steering columnswitch is provided with a longitudinal aperture guide for the leverwithin the carrier so that, on the one hand, the switch is pivotablealongside the longitudinal aperture about a second axis, thus actuatinga second switch, and is further pivotable about a first axis by way of astop formed by the edge of the longitudinal aperture and thus actuates afirst switch.

It is an aim of this invention to improve the switching behaviour of twoaxes steering column switch and in particular to increase the number ofpossible switching actuations of two axes switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, this invention thus consists in reinforcing the guiding edgesof the longitudinal aperture in a simple manner, particularly so in theguiding area. The longitudinal aperture is preferably worked directlyinto the material of the switch lever. The same applies to the fasteningof the limiting component. This invention, however, is also applicableto gates insertable into the lever such as shown, for example, in GermanPublished Patent Application No. 39 40 284. Such exchangeable gates, forinstance, may be the plastic type which, according to the presentinvention, will then be reinforced suitably by inserted limitingcomponents.

An improvement in the mode of operation of the steering column switchmay be achieved whereby increased strength, in particular the hardness,is introduced thereby reducing wear on the processed surface caused bythe actuation of the switch.

An especially simple design of the limiting component is preferred. Inthis preferred design the limiting plate is inserted on the edge of thelongitudinal aperture so that, over the major part of itscircumferential surface, the plate itself is embraced and held by thematerial of the lever while, on the other hand, a part of its surfaceforms the guideway within the longitudinal aperture in the spot where amajor amount of wear would normally take place.

Preferably, the plate includes a cylindrical pin (hereinafter oftenreferred to as `bolt`) anchored in the carrier preferably supportsitself permanently on the plate over the entire path of its motion. Thisfeature is especially suitable in cases where only one rest position isprovided within the longitudinal aperture into which the leverautomatically returns (under a resilient action working on the lever).

It is intended to use this invention for a steering column switch withtwo stable end positions, and it is preferable that the limitingcomponent is a cylindrical pin which is fastened to the lever. The useof these characteristics is especially recommended if the longitudinalaperture has a circular curvature so that the surface area of the secondcylindrical pin forms a part of the curved path of the longitudinalaperture.

The resetting (or the change-over) action of the lever can even beimproved by resiliently prestressing the lever. Of course, by means ofsuch a resilient action, it is also possible to improve the resettingbehaviour in case of a straight longitudinal aperture.

By constructing the first and second cylindrical pins with approximatelythe same diameters an especially effective design of a change-over leverresults. There, a comparatively strong curvature is achieved for thecurved path, said curvature enhancing the change-over action of thelever in the sense of a stop effect.

A further enhancement of the stop effect can be achieved in constructingthe curvature of the guiding surface of the limiting component so thatit is larger than the curvature of the following guide sections of thelongitudinal aperture.

Preferably the limiting component is symmetrically arranged in respectto the longitudinal aperture.

With regard to resetting into one sole end position in a straightlongitudinal aperture it is recommended to incline the longitudinalaperture so as to point to the first switch contact. Because thelongitudinal aperture, with its end averted from the first switchcontact, is situated at a greater distance with regard to a resilientcomponent inserted into the lever than with the switch-side end, here,there will result a determined rest position whence the switch contactcan always be actuated directly. This design may be of specialimportance for switches that are frequently actuated, for instance, foraudible or visual signalling in vehicles and it will save switchingtravels.

If a steering column switch is used which has a lever with two stableend positions it is preferable that the longitudinal aperture extendsalong side of a circle around the second axis and portions of thecontour follow a circle described about the axis of the second cylinder.There, the two end positions defined by the longitudinal aperture areassigned to the operation of respectively the lower and upper beams.

Preferably the stop assigned to the lower beam is used as fulcrum of thelever for actuating the flashing function. The stop assigned to theupper beam may also serve as fulcrum for a further switch operation,such as for an additional hooting signal or any other suitable devices.

A further way for attaining the above-indicated aim in a steering columnswitch of the generic type consists in the placement of the individuallyoperable switches relative to the pivoting movements so that relativelysmall switching motions will result within the scope of practicalapplications. Thus, it is particularly expedient to assign the leverguided in a longitudinal aperture to a rest position whence it ispossible to actuate the most frequently operated switch without anymajor switching travel. Expediently one proceeds from the principle thatlower and upper beams are actuated by one change-over switch since butone of the beam types is needed at a time and since the switch is to beactuated only when there is a change in the beam type. On the otherhand, what is aimed at is that the lever have but one sole stable restposition from which the most frequently needed switch can be actuateddirectly. The present invention consists of longitudinal aperture sothat the control lever will always reach a rest position whence thesecond contact piece is operable at any time. The second contact piececan be assigned to the flashing function or any other device which is tobe ready for operation at any time such as an electric horn, thewindshield wipers or the like.

Advantageously, the point of action of the second contact piece lies onthe lever in the range of the pivotable support of the lever, with thepoint of action of the first contact piece lying in the area of thelever end situated in the carrier. By means of the inventive arrangementof the longitudinal aperture there results the advantage that the levercan be pivoted without moving the first contact piece. In this design,the axis about which the lever is pivoted moves within the longitudinalaperture whereas the lever end situated in the carrier moves verylittle. Because the longitudinal aperture essentially extends in thedirection of the second contact piece, the pivoting movement of thelever is completely transmitted to the second contact piece. Thispivoting movement can be carried out until the axis comes to rest on theone end of the longitudinal aperture. In this position the secondcontact piece adopts its switch position. The lever now being pivotedfurther, particularly so beyond a pressure point (which is felt by theoperator), the lever no longer will pivot about the end situated in thecarrier but rather about the axis situated in the longitudinal apertureand abutting the one end of the longitudinal aperture. During thisfurther pivoting movement the end situated in the carrier is pivoted,and the first contact piece becomes activated. Now, with this firstcontact piece controlling the beam change-over function and with thesecond contact piece controlling the flashing function, it is possibleto actuate the flashing function by the first operation of the lever andto actuate the change-over of the driving beams by way of the furtheroperation of the lever. In the inventive design, the lever needs to bemoved in only one direction, the lever first actuating the flashingfunction and thereupon the change-over of the driving beams.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides that the pivot axisis formed by a bolt which, in the rest position of the lever, issituated at that end of the longitudinal aperture which is remote fromthe second contact piece. Thereby, the maximum travel of the bolt withinthe longitudinal aperture is made available for the operation of thesecond contact piece. The rest position of the second contact piece isdefined by the abutting of the bolt against that end of the longitudinalaperture which is remote from the second contact piece whereas theoperating position of the second contact piece is defined by theabutting of the bolt against that end of the longitudinal aperture whichis facing the second contact piece.

Preferably, the lever has at least two switching steps, with the secondcontact piece being operated in the first switching step and with thefirst contact piece being operated in the second switching step.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides that thelever extends into the switch housing through a wall of the same, thatthe first and second contact pieces and/or the second moving contact areessentially aligned transversely to the lever and that the secondcontact piece and/or the second moving contact are located near the wallof the switch housing penetrated by the lever, and that the firstcontact piece and the change-over device are arranged at a distance withregard to the second contact piece. This design has the advantage ofbeing very compact and of attaining small switching travels on the leverdue to the large distance between the two contact pieces.

In one embodiment it is provided that the lever is pivotably supportedin a pivotable carrier, that the slide of the change-over device iscoupled with the lever through a penetration in the carrier, and thatthe second moving contact and/or the second contact piece is locatedbetween a bearing bridge of the carrier and a base plate carrying fixedelectric contacts. In the inventive design of the steering columnswitch, this arrangement has the advantage of requiring a small numberof components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal, cross sectional view through the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines II--II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view on the base plate of the embodiment of FIG. 1,fitted with components.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the longitudinal aperture and limitingcomponent portions of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the longitudinal aperture of FIG. 1provided with another limiting component.

FIG. 7 is the embodiment of FIG. 6 showing a modified switch position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the illustrated steering column switch, a housing 10 features a zincdie-cast box-type top part 11 and a plastic bottom tray 12, as well asan intermediate bottom 13. The intermediate bottom 13 is essentiallylocated on the level of the joint between the top part and the bottomtray 12. Carrier 14 is supported in a cover 15 of the top part 11 and inthe intermediate bottom 13 so as to be pivotable about axis 16 in aplane generally referred to as being horizontal. The switching curve ofthe carrier 14 is determined by a stop roller 17, guided on the carrier14 and supported via a spring 18, and by two stop levers 19 pivotablysupported on the housing 10, the stop roller 17 being pressed by spring18 against the two stop levers 19.

A lever 26 extends into a cavity 25 of the carrier 14. Bolt 27 whoseaxis 28 passes perpendicularly through axis 16, pivotally supports lever26 on the carrier 14 in a plane generally referred to as being vertical.A wall of the carrier 14 which faces cavity 25 is designed as switchingcurve 29 against which a helical spring 30 presses a stop roller 31 viaa T-shaped biasing member 32. The stop roller 31 is pivotable about anaxis 33. Helical spring 30 is accommodated in a pocket bore 34 of lever26.

Inserted into lever 26 is a separate bolt guide 40 provided with alongitudinal aperture 41 for bolt 27. On either side of lever 26 thebolt 27 extends into matching bores of the carrier 14 which are notshown in further detail. The bolt guide 40 is rounded on three outsideedges running parallel to longitudinal aperture 41, while one edge ofthe guide is angular. This will always ensure correct mounting of thebolt guide on lever 26. It is also possible to provide the longitudinalaperture 41 directly in lever 26.

Along the direction of axis 28 of bolt 27, the dimensions of the cavity25 within the carrier 14 and of the lever 26 are adjusted to each otherso that the lever 26, while pivoting about the axis 16, turns thecarrier 14 along.

The cavity 25 is designed so as to flare outside. The advantage of thisdesign is that, in the event of small pivoting movements within thiscavity 25, the lever 26 can pivot about the stop roller 31 or ratherabout a guide 90 provided on the end of the lever 26 without bumpingagainst the wall of the cavity 25. During this pivoting movement, thebolt 27 moves within the longitudinal aperture 41.

If the lever 26 is pivoted further, which likewise happens clockwise,this will be about axis 28 since the bolt 27 abuts on the lower end ofthe longitudinal aperture 41. In doing so, it actuates a slide 44 of afirst change-over device supported in the bottom tray 12 and in theintermediate bottom 13 of the housing 10. Slide 44 extends through apenetration 42 in the carrier 14 and through a penetration 43 in theintermediate bottom 13.

The slide 44 essentially has the shape of an angle which rests with oneof its legs against the lever 26 (FIG. 1). Two springs 45 (FIG. 3) areprovided on the other leg of slide 44 and are arranged parallel to thepivot axis 16 of the carrier 14. Slide 44 is guided in two grooves 46which are provided in two rails 47 protruding from the intermediatebottom 13 into the bottom tray 12. To save weight, excavations 52 can beprovided at the top of slide 44.

A further portion of the change-over device is a contact piece 48 (FIG.2) pivotably supported on a journal 49 of the bottom tray 12. Acontactor controller 50 is guided within a slot of said contact pieceand is radially displaceable therein. Contactor controller 50 issupported in said slot by way of a compression spring 51.

The contactor controller 50 cooperates alternatively with the two flanksof a roof-shaped stop element 55 (preferably made of plastic) which issprayed onto the free end of a contact beam 56. Contact beam 56 issupported with its other end in a knife-edge-type manner on a fixedcontact 57 fitted in the bottom tray. Between the fixed contact 57 andthe stop element 55, the contact beam 56 carries a double-contact rivet58 which in the two possible switch positions of the contact beam 56either rests against a fixed contact 59 or 60. Both fixed contacts 59and 60 are fitted in bottom tray 12.

In the switch position clearly shown in FIG. 2, the double-contact rivet58 is pressed against fixed contact 59 because of the force of thecompression spring 51 acting on the contactor controller 50. If thecontact piece 48, as seen in FIG. 2, is pivoted counterclockwise, thecontactor controller 50 will slide along the flank of the stop element55, against which it is resting, in the direction of the ridge of theroof, with the compression spring 51 becoming increasingly stressed.After passing the ridge of the roof the contactor controller 50 willslide on the other flank away from the ridge of the roof, with thecompression spring 51 releasing and abruptly urging the contact beam 56into the other switch position in which the double-contact rivet 58 willrest against fixed contact 60.

For pivoting, the contact piece 48 has a control curve 61 with twoV-shaped depressions 67 and 68 cooperating with a change-over cam 62. Inits rest position, this change-over cam 62 lies centrally above thecontrol curve 61 and is shaped on a pivotable slide piece 63 essentiallylocated between the slide 44 and the contact piece 48 and guided in thehousing so as to be displaceable in the same direction as the slide 44,yet, additionally also being arranged so as to be pivotable. Fixedbetween the pivotable slide piece 63 and the bottom tray 12 is acompression spring 64 which will load the pivotable slide piece 63against the sliding direction and press it against the slide 44 if thereis a change-over. Further, the pivotable slide piece 63 has an internalV-shaped resetting curve 65 abutted by a reset pin 66 of the contactpiece 48.

If the lever 26, as seen in FIG. 1, is pivoted clockwise, the slide 44and the pivotable slide piece 63 will be displaced against the force ofthe compression spring 64. Depending on the position of the contactpiece 48, the change-over cam 62 will slide into one of the depressions67 or 68 of the control curve 61, with the sliding motion of thepivotable slide piece 63 being superimposed by a rotation. As soon asthe change-over cam 62 has reached the deepest point of one of thedepressions a further sliding displacement of the slide 44 will causethe contact piece 48 to pivot and will thus bring about a change-over ofcontact beam 56. The compression spring 64 will again reset thepivotable slide piece 63 and the slide 44 after the release of the lever26, with the pivotable slide piece also returning into an unpivotedposition because of the reset pin 66 and the resetting curve 65.

In the bottom tray 12, a second contact piece 75 and a second movingcontact beam 76 (FIG. 4) are accommodated near the wall of switchhousing 10 through which the lever 26 extends into the switch housing 10and, essentially, transversely to the lever 26 and, thus, in parallelalignment to contact piece 48 and to contact beam 56 (FIG. 3). Thissecond contact piece 75 also has a contactor controller 50 and acompression spring 51 pressing the contactor controller 50 against astop element 77 (element 77 is preferably sprayed onto the contact beam76) and again element 77 is preferably shaped like a roof. The contactbeam 76 is supported pivotably on a fixed contact 78 and carries acontact rivet 79 between its point of support and the stop element 77.By means of this contact rivet 79, the contact beam 76 can act on afixed contact 80 arranged below the contact beam 76. At its end remotefrom the contact beam 76, the contact piece 75 is pivotably supported bytwo journals 81 (FIG. 3) within two journal receptacles 82 of the bottomplate 12. Receptacles 82 are shut off by two appertaining retainers 82aof the intermediate bottom 13. Each of the journal receptacles 82comprises the longitudinal aperture 99 for the journals 81. Longitudinalaperture 99 essentially extends in the longitudinal direction of thetappet 101. Between the point of support and its end facing the contactbeam 76, the contact piece 75 is supported on the bottom plate 12 by wayof a compression spring 83. Referring to FIG. 4, the compression spring83 urges the contact piece 75 to pivot counterclockwise.

The stop element 77 (in contrast to stop element 55 of contact beam 56)is provided with a projection 84 for resting against a stop 85 of theintermediate bottom 13 in the position of the contact beam 76 as shownin FIG. 4.

If the lever 26 is moved out of its rest position, in which the bolt 27rests at the upper end of longitudinal aperture 41, so as to be pivotedabout the guide 90, then this will relieve tappet 101 arranged in bore100 in intermediate bottom 13 and extending between lever 26 and asecond contact piece 75. The upper end of tappet 101 acts on the lever26 between the free end of the lever 26 and the bolt guide 40 near thebolt 27. Upon a rotation of lever 26 during which the bolt 27 moveswithin the longitudinal aperture 41, the second contact piece 75, asseen in the section as per FIG. 4, is pivoted counterclockwise. Thereby,in the manner already described with reference to contact beam 56 andcontact piece 48, the contact beam 76 is switched over under the actionof the force of spring 83 and 51 into a position in which the contactbeam 76 abuts with contact rivet 79 against the fixed contact 80. Thesteering column switch being preferably integrated into an automotivevehicle and the on-board network being connected, the flashing functionwill be on, now. The actuation of the lever 26 enables an actuation ofthe flashing signal with only a slight pivoting travel of lever 26, withthe slide 44 not being actuated.

If the flashing function is turned on, with the lever 26 leaving itsfirst switch position and changing over into its second switch positionin which the bolt 27 will come to rest just on the lower end of thelongitudinal aperture 41, the contact piece 75 which rests against theintermediate bottom 13 will maintain its activated position. Now thefirst contact piece will be actuated by way of the slide 44. In thissecond switch position, there is a change-over between the upper andlower beams of the automotive vehicle.

If now the lever 26 is released, the contact piece 48 and the contactbeam 56 will remain in the position just reached while the other movedswitch components, including contact piece 75 and contact beam 76, willbe reset again.

It can be noticed that the inventive steering column switch has twofulcrums (or pivot points) separate from each other. One fulcrumoperates one switch (e.g. high/low beams) and the second fulcrumoperates the second switch (e.g. turning indicators). One fulcrum isformed by the guide 90 for the first switch position, with the secondfulcrum or rather the second pivot axis being formed by the bolt.

Because of the compact space requirements as well as the small switchingtravels, the fulcrum for flashing was arranged remotely from the fulcrumfor the change-over of the beams in order to achieve a safe change-overof the flashing function without any additional transmission lever. Theposition of the longitudinal aperture 41 in this design has beenselected so as to point in the direction of the second contact piece 75,on the one hand, and essentially extend along the direction of helicalspring 30 (or stop roller 31), on the other hand. Because of thisarrangement an advantage results in that, in the rest position of thelever 26, the bolt 27 automatically will adopt a rest position in thelongitudinal aperture 41 in that the same will be displaced by way ofthe helical spring 30 so that the bolt 27 will come to rest against theupper end of the longitudinal aperture 41. Upon the actuation of thelever thus, the lever 26 first will perform a pivoting movement upwardswith a travel of the length of the longitudinal aperture 41, with theflashing function being released by way of the tappet 101. The fulcrumfor this function is the upper abutment surface of the guide 90 on thecarrier 14. The lower end of the longitudinal aperture 41 abuts on bolt27, the same will (as the lever 26 will be further pivoted) serve asfulcrum for the change-over of the driving beams, with the end of thelever 26 which is situated in the carrier 14 being pivoted downwards.Then, the beam change-over function will be brought about by way of theslide 44 and the switching curve shaped like a heart. After the releaseof the lever 26, the same will again return into the initial positionbecause of the force of the helical spring 30, the flashing functionagain being turned off by the action of the tappet 101. The flashingfunction is turned on by way of the compression spring 83 andautomatically turned off via the tappet 101 (i.e. it cannot stay onbecause of being stuck or the like). Preferably a ball-segment-shapedimpression 102 is provided in prolongation of the tappet 101 and workedinto the top surface of contact piece 75 and engaged by the tappet 101with a rounded end. This will further improve the guidance of the tappet101.

Because of the varying tolerance deviations of the individual componentsof the device, it must be ensured that there will be an overstroke inthe supporting area of the tappet 101 in order to guarantee a safechange-over of the flashing function. As already mentioned, the flashingfunction will be turned off by way of the tappet 101. The same isarranged so that, during the tuning-off motion, at first the contactpiece 75 will be shifted on the contact bridge side until it reaches thestop on the contact plate above the tappet 101. After reaching the stopon the contact plate, the contact piece 75 will be pressed downward onthe supporting side in a longitudinal aperture 99 by the amount of theoverstroke. Because of this overstroke (defined by the length of thetappet 101) it is possible to make up for all the tolerance deviationsof the individual components of different plastics and, thus, toguarantee a safe contact change-over at all times. This sequence ofmotions is acted upon by the arrangement between tappet 101 andcompression spring 83.

In order to prevent tilting of the contact piece 75 which might possiblybe caused by slightly eccentric actuation of contact piece 75 throughtappet 101, contact piece 75 is provided with two guiding arms 103.These guiding arms 103 are located in the area of support of the contactpiece 75 on the upper and lower sides of the same and extend in thetransverse direction of contact piece 75 and, essentially,perpendicularly to the upper and lower sides of contact piece 75. Theguiding arms 103 rest with their lateral surfaces on the inside surfacesof the journal receptacles 82 or rather of the retainers 82a and thusprevent the contact piece 75 from tilting around its longitudinal axis.

FIG. 5 shows a detail from FIG. 1 with an embodiment of the longitudinalaperture which is varied with regard to FIG. 1. Here, the longitudinalaperture 41 is reinforced by a limiting component 150 on its guidingedge in order to reduce the wear of bolt 27 on the longitudinal aperture41. Bolt 27 is preferably designed as a cylindrical pin. The limitingcomponent 150 is a steel plate inserted into a corresponding recess 151in the lever 26. The strength of the steel plate itself exceeds that ofthe material of the lever 26 by far which, for instance, may be of castzinc. Preferably, the longitudinal aperture should be shaped directlyinto the material of the lever 26. However, as can be seen from FIG. 1,it can also be inserted into an exchangeable bolt guide 40 which ispreferably of plastic. Such a bolt guide gives the opportunity ofadapting the position and type of guidance of the bolt 27 to therespective needs of various designs in a simple manner, with themechanical design of the steering column switch remaining unchangedotherwise. Apart from that, the steering column switch as per FIG. 5 mayhave the same mode of operation as the steering column switch as perFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows another variation of the embodiment of the steering columnswitch of FIG. 1. Here, a curved longitudinal aperture 149 is providedwhich lies on a circle around the second axis 152 with the radius R.Preferably, the curvature is defined by circles described around thelongitudinal axis 160 of a second cylinder 154. The width of thelongitudinal aperture is slightly larger than the diameter of bolt 27.

The longitudinal aperture 149 has an approximately symmetricalarrangement with regard to the longitudinal axis of the lever 26. Thecurvature of the longitudinal aperture is preferably larger than thecurvature of radius R. Essential for this invention is cylindrical,limiting component 154 whose diameter approximately corresponds to thatof the bolt 27, with the curvature of the cylinder 154 approximatelyadapted to the curvature of the longitudinal aperture 149. The curvatureof the cylinder 154, however, can also be smaller than that of thelongitudinal aperture alongside the guiding line so that a sector ofcylinder 154 projects into the longitudinal aperture. This will render astop effect since the cylinder 154 is pressed against bolt 27 under theforce of spring 30 so that the cylinder 154 will slide with a convexsurface line along a corresponding convex surface line of the bolt 27until one of the two end positions 155, 156 will have been reached whichact as a stop for the bolt 27. This arrangement of two adjoining convexsurfaces prevents lever 26 from assuming a permanent intermediateposition.

The cylindrical limiting component 154 again is made of a strong steeland inserted into a corresponding recess 157 in the control lever 26which encloses the surface area of the cylinder 154 for the most partand thus retains the same. On the other hand, the non-enclosed sectionof the lever 26 has been selected big enough to guarantee that the twocylinders 27, 154 will always be in touch with each other.

The arrangement as per FIG. 6 makes it imperative for the lever 26 toadopt one of two stable end positions wherein the bolt 27 will resteither against stop 155 or against stop 156 (see FIG. 7). Upon a furtherrotation of the control lever beyond either mentioned end position, itwill be possible in both of the two mentioned end positions to rotatethe control lever with the respective stop 155 or 156 around the bolt27, with the control lever 26 pivoting about the first axis 28. In doingso, the front end 158 of the control lever 26 will be swung out wherebya first switch can be actuated. By means of the first switch it may, forinstance, be possible to operate the flashing function or anothersuitable device which, in particular, may serve signalling purposes.

In the context of FIG. 6 it be assumed that the control lever 26 is in aposition wherein a switch corresponding to the components 75, 101 ofFIG. 1 has been actuated so that the upper beam has been turned on. Thisis possible in that the control lever 26 is pivoted with its left endaccording to FIG. 6 downwards about the second axis 152 until the bolt27 rests against stop 155. If necessary, it is possible to turn thecontrol lever 26 from this position around the bolt 27 by means of afurther pivoting movement, thus the front end 158 of the control lever26 moving upwards and triggering another suitable switch. This is notpossible in the present example of an embodiment as per FIG. 6 since asupport 159 limits any further downwards-directed pivoting movement ofthe lever 26.

In FIG. 7, the control lever 26 as per FIG. 6 is represented in itssecond end position where the stop 156 rests against bolt 27. This endposition reached by an upwards-directed pivoting movement of the leftend of lever 26 according to FIG. 7 now permits the lever 26 to pivotwith the stop 156 about the bolt 27, thus the front end 158 of FIG. 7being pivoted downwards and thus, as already explained above, triggeringa suitable switch such as the flashing switch.

Proceeding from the lower-beam position shown in FIG. 7, it is possiblein this way to operate the flashing function at any time by a furthermotion of the lever 26 beyond the lower-beam position.

I claim:
 1. A steering column switch for automotive vehicles,comprising:a switch housing having a manually pivotable switch leverconnected to a first moving electric contact and a second movingelectric contact, wherein said switch lever is pivotable in a firstposition about a first axis effective for actuating said second electriccontact, and is further guided in a longitudinal aperture to a secondposition to be pivotable about a second axis essentially parallel to thefirst axis and effective for actuating said first electric contact, andwherein said switch lever is supported in a carrier rotatable around athird axis which is essentially perpendicular to the second axis,wherein said longitudinal aperture is partially defined by a guidingsurface, wherein said guiding surface is defined by a limiting componentinserted into the switch lever, said carrier further including a firstcylindrical pin anchored in the carrier and slides along the limitingcomponent while the lever is guided in said longitudinal aperturetowards said second position.
 2. A steering column switch as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the lever is resiliently prestressed along thedirection of a connecting line between the first axis and thelongitudinal aperture, wherein under the prestress of a spring, thelimiting component slides along the first cylindrical pin during theguidance of the lever in the longitudinal aperture.
 3. A steering columnswitch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limiting component is formedout of a material of higher strength than that of the lever.
 4. Asteering column switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein the limitingcomponent is an essentially cuboid-shaped limiting plate retained withinthe lever.
 5. A steering column switch as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe limiting component is a second cylindrical pin which extendsgenerally parallel to an axis of the first cylindrical pin.
 6. Asteering column switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein the firstcylindrical pin and the second cylindrical pin are formed by circularcylinders having generally the same diameter.
 7. A steering columnswitch as claimed in claim 6, wherein the curvature of the guidingsurface of the limiting component is larger than the curvature of thefollowing guiding sections of the longitudinal aperture.
 8. A steeringcolumn switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the limiting component isarranged symmetrically in respect of the longitudinal aperture.
 9. Asteering column switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the longitudinalaperture is inclined so as to point generally towards the secondelectric contact.
 10. A steering column switch as claimed in claim 7,wherein the longitudinal aperture extends alongside a circular linehaving a center coincident with the first axis.
 11. A steering columnswitch as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lever, under resilientprestress, adopts one of two stable end positions.
 12. A steering columnswitch as claimed in claim 11, wherein upon a movement of the leverbeyond at least one of said end positions, the lever pivots about theappertaining stop, thus activating at least one of said first and secondelectric contacts.
 13. A steering column switch for automotive vehicles,comprising a switch housing accommodating a lever having a longitudinalaperture, said lever activating a first contact piece controlling afirst moving electric contact and a second contact piece controlling asecond moving electric contact, said lever being supported in a carrierarranged in said housing, so as to be manually pivotable about a pivotaxis located within said longitudinal aperture, wherein saidlongitudinal aperture extends in the direction of the second contactpiece.
 14. A steering column switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein saidpivot axis is formed by a bolt which, in the rest position of the lever,is situated at an end of the longitudinal aperture which is remote fromthe second contact piece.
 15. A steering column switch as claimed inclaim 14, wherein said lever has at least two switching steps, with thesecond contact piece being operated in a first switching step and withthe first contact piece being operated in a second switching step.
 16. Asteering column switch as claimed in claim 15, wherein said leverextends into the switch housing through a wall of the same and whereinat least one of said first contact piece, said second contact piece, andsaid second moving electric contact are aligned transversely to thelever.
 17. A steering column switch as claimed in claim 16, furtherincluding a slide adjoining said lever and wherein said switch housingincludes an opening defined, in part, by a bearing bridge and a baseplate, and wherein said slide penetrates into said opening and abuts atleast one said second contact piece and said second moving contact. 18.A steering column switch as claimed in claim 17, wherein the carrierincludes walls defining a cavity essentially flaring outwards andaccommodating the lever.
 19. A steering column switch as claimed inclaim 18, wherein there is a feelable pressure point between pivotingmovements of the lever for actuating each one of the contact pieces. 20.A steering column switch as claimed in claim 19, wherein the secondcontact piece is supported in a second longitudinal aperture.
 21. Asteering column switch as claimed in claim 20, further including atappet extending between said lever and said contact piece, wherein thesecond longitudinal aperture extends essentially perpendicular to adirection of a longitudinal axis of the tappet acted upon by the lever.22. A steering column switch as claimed in claim 20, wherein the secondlongitudinal aperture is provided in the second contact piece.